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Post by Miska on Dec 11, 2015 4:17:12 GMT
Then, suddenly, the scene changed. For a moment, Miska was thigh-deep in mud several meters underwater, clinging for dear life against a mighty torrent sweeping past him. Then the next instant, he was standing on his two feet on a dry field. The sky was red like the river water before. But this time, it was a real sky. Vast, cloudless sky, filled with silhouette of giant gears moving incessantly. Blood-red twilight bathed the area, making shadows of countless swords that filled every inch of the barren field. It was a field of swords. Sad, foreboding, tragic field of swords. “Miska. Are you okay?”There was Archer looking towards her. The mud was all gone, only the golden Venetia Gear dripping with water. This must be Archer’s Reality Marble. But before he could say something, a movement in front of her caught his attention. In the middle of the rising swords was another field, but this time filled with broken swords. Some were bent out shape. Some others were clearly cut by half. And lording over them were six red figures, each holding a majestic spear two metres long in front of their robe. They, had deflected all the swords, using the same power that would later led the hero Lapi to his glorious victory. The Reality Marble properties had stripped them off their invisibility. And under the red lighting their robes fluttered furiously. Their cloaked head turned towards the Master-Servant pair in unison, as if seeing them for real the first time. Like how Prelati’s beast could not be transported in half, or Gilgamesh without his Key, so did the mysterious being could not be transported without its spear. And all the power it possessed. In a precise choreographic manner, the spirits suddenly moved to formation. One of them stood in the middle, surrounded by the other five representing the main islands. They raised their spears in tight encircling formation that even Cu Chulainn would admire. In an instant another torrential water, just as red as the sky, enveloped the six beings, rising high against the twilight sky like the majestic tower it was before. From the very center of the insurmountable water another voice reverberated through the world. One that was familiar for Miska, but would be the first time for Archer. "Seas of Hopes. Seas of Pride.
Seas of everlasting Lore.
To the waves. To the rising tide.
To glorious sea Kaumaile bore!"
“That…is not a whirlpool. It’s a pillar of water…” was the only intelligible thing Miska could say. His eyes were wide, hopeless. Facing a power he did not dream exist. Every muscle in his body froze. His joints stiff. The only thing they wanted to do was to wait and hope for the best… In any case, this was certainly not a Pawn-ranked mission. She had been duped. *** Smite, you didn't describe the Unlimited Blade Works. I think it was Emiya's grim world rather than Shirou's hopeful one? emiya |
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Post by emiya on Jan 4, 2016 1:24:35 GMT
When I see that the pillar of water they were facing couldn't simply be handled by brute force, I was running out of options fast. Even in my world, where I possessed sword after sword, mere projections of weapons weren't what could stop something like that. If I had the magical energy she did, perhaps I could use one of the powerful holy weapons I had stored away at it's full strength, blowing away whatever foes were there. But I wasn't. I was simply a slightly high-end human, barely a magus, completely unremarkable as a Heroic Spirit aside from this world.
However, I didn't let defeatism claim me. I couldn't let Miska simply die, and the prospect of returning to Chaldea...I almost thought home...empty handed was not something that appealed to me. I simply had to get creative.
The pillar was approaching. One last try, one last attempt, before all I could do was inform Miska of the need to Ley Shift back to Chaldea at a moment's notice if the water should return, so they could at least have Durandal, as I try a last ditch technique. This was working on a theory, and involved one last relic I had from the Grail War I fought in when I was little more than a child.
A dagger flies up from the ground into my hand, as does my bow. A curved, violet blade, splotched with red. I reinforce it, modifying it to function as an arrow. This weapon and I had an unusual history together...it felt only right that it would serve me well in this fight. If it didn't, then I was truly out of options. I didn't have the magical energy to blow the vortex of water away under pure strength...however, if I could dispel the magic binding the water together!
“Rule Breaker!”
As I fire the shot with the power to sever the bonds of magic that bind objects and contracts to the control of the user, I let swords rain down once more, calling Caladbolg for the one time I'm allowed within the Reality Marble, firing it behind Rule Breaker with destructive force, if only to keep those spirits occupied as the Noble Phantasms rain down upon them.
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Post by Miska on Jan 31, 2016 12:08:10 GMT
To the Master who had but given up all hope, that last shot was like a new sunrise. She had forsaken the notion of resisting. Had denied any urge of fighting back. She was content just to stay there and let the inevitable happened. After all, the moment that rain of swords –clearly Archer’s final move- also failed, had not they exhausted all their chances of winning? Yet, the Servant carried on fighting. He, who said he had wanted to be a Hero once, carried on fighting. He kept trying to win. Out of nowhere, a rainbow colored dagger materialized in his hands. He shot it with his bow, along with another sword. Just like what he had done before. And because of it, Miska thought it was futile. But the crooked dagger flew undaunted, straight towards the pillar of red water. Watching it was two sets of eyes. One empty. One hopeful. And when it shattered the water’s bindings and allowed the second shot to hit its mark, releasing a huge burst of energy as a blood-curdling shriek filled the air, the empty eyes turned briefly towards the Servant. Faintly, those eyes saw a hero. *** The sudden wave of energy shattered the pocket dimension. In an instant, Miska found herself back in the crimson depth. Her legs was still stuck to the mud up to her shin, the position she left when embracing herself against the wave before. Archer she did not where, but judging from the LifeLine extending up from her shoulders he seemed to be back on his perch above the water. Durendal was once again in her hands, and all around her were fleeting shadows of Vagrant Spirits, confused at what just happened. And within her reach, a golden spear slowly descended. Now that she could see it clearly, the spear was obviously a majestic one. Almost as long as herself was tall, the golden glimmer of the spear shone even in the murky redness. In her hands Durendal glinted in tandem. Quickly, Miska reached forward and grabbed the Noble Phantasm. But when he tried to get up, he was stuck. The mud had hardened around his legs, binding him in place. He could not make it budge. As if sensing the helplessness, the swarm of Vagrant Spirits were now visibly becoming more agitated. They circled around the lordling, like crows around a carcass. One or two of them darted forward and met their demise in Durendal. But immobile like this, Miska’s chances were slim. “Archer I’m- I’m stuck!” she frantically shouted to the communication line, “Get me out of here! In-in an instant!”But the poor Master did not know that the communication line has finally broken due to the second explosion. Hearing no answer from the other side, all he could was tugging nervously at the LifeLine, hoping that the fisherman above noticed he had caught their fish. *** Tag: emiyaI am sorry this took so long. I am such a terrible person  ( Do pull Miska up and I think we are done... |
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Post by emiya on Feb 5, 2016 9:35:18 GMT
As the whirlpool collapsed, bringing Unlimited Blade Works down along with it, I heave a contented sigh of relief. That had been far too close for comfort...Rule Breaker was not a weapon I commonly used, and even attempting to use it in such an application simply wasn't something I considered. It was only when my back was fully pressed against the wall that I even considered it. It's applications were minimal...but this was one of the situations where it seemed to shine. I'd need to take note of this and keep it in when considering tactical decisions in the future.
"Well. I'm sorry for giving you such a fright, Miska. You'll forgive me, that's not a weapon I like to..." I look down where Miska had been, and she simply wasn't there. I assumed that with the reality marble's shattering, it wouldn't simply place them back where they were, it would retain some kind of spatial relativity...but then, my reality marble had never been shattered out of my control before. "Miska! Respond!" The communication line was dead...Miska was likely trapped down there. I had no idea if he was in vital danger, the immediate action to take was to bring her up. They could worry about any more Noble Phantasms once their communication was restored.
Going to the tether lifeline, I begin to pull Miska up, hastened by the tugs I feel on it. It was very, very tough work...I was about as far from the most physically strong Heroic Spirit as you can get, so it's slow going...she must have gotten trapped in the muck. I wonder if it's necessary to enact my plan...but without communication, doing it would be the same as committing suicide, and there was no indication that Miska was in life-threatening danger, so I continue to pull. Eventually, he gets some kind of purchase, and begins to hoist his Master up.
Mana was growing increasingly scarce, but he couldn't afford to be conservative considering his dual responsibilities. He fires swords he projects in the air down through the murky crimson water, piercing the Vagrant Spirits that get too close to his Master for his own comfort. Soon enough he could see Miska instead of judging her position from the tether's location, and was relieved to see that he seemed alive and relatively unhurt, with both the spear and the sword in hand. I continue to hoist until Miska was safely out of the water, upon which I let the tether line down and begin to pant for breath, resting my hands on my knees. I was running very low on prana for sure. "Master...we...we should return to Chaldea. Two Noble Phantasms is quite the recovery, and if we try continuing, it's unclear how much more progress we'll be able to have."
There were more scattered in the lake, but if they were all guarded by similar wraiths...and if anything else had the kind of power that the lance did, then he wouldn't be able to manage another victory. It wasn't a gamble he felt willing to take.
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Post by Miska on Feb 6, 2016 2:58:21 GMT
People are always amazed how simple thing could turn out to be very important. A small letter. A smile. A piece of old that was suddenly needed. There is no real “value” of things. Every experience is subjective. Every things are valued differently in another circumstances. Like Miska now. He could not tell you how a simple tug on his suit meant the whole world to him. He was ghastly afraid. Here he was, stuck in a blood red mud several meters deep in a cursed water, with hostile Vagrant Spirits circling around him and kept trying to get a piece of his soul. His supposed protector must have been quite spent in Prana after that Reality Marble. Miska knew. He could feel the Servant’s temporary link sucking his own prana as a Provisional Master. Archer did not even respond to him right now. Had something bad happened to him? If he could not help, Miska would not be able to get free, and thus his story would end in the depths of Mion River. But then, a tug on the LifeLine and Miska’s thoughts cleared. Archer was responding! She immediately went to get confirmation, “Archer, how are things up there? Say something!”She still did not know that the communication line was broken. But after a few seconds of silence she herself suspected it. It was not in Archer’s style to play games in such dire times. So, her voice must not be able to reach Archer somehow. The only thing she could do was hoping on the LifeLine. Slowly but surely, Miska could feel the Servant pulling her up. At first she was anchored firmly on the mud, refusing to budge. It took several twists and kicking motion before the mud around her legs partially loosened. The mud…almost seemed as thick as actual blood. Then with a loud sucking sound that could be heard even underwater Miska’s legs were uprooted from the muck. Her legs was now hanging above the river bed on her way up, and once again Miska noticed the dangerous flaw in this Diving Suit. It…did not had any propeller. ... ... ... The lordling was filled with rage. What could the development team thinking? Are the user was just expected to walk on riverbeds in this cumbersome suit? Is that it? In shallow waters with gently sloping beach it might do. But if the wearer was required to plunge into deep waters like this? How would they expected to get out? But inwardly, Miska himself shuddered. It was him after all who plunge straight into an estuary without checking how he could climb back up. ***
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Post by Miska on Feb 6, 2016 3:02:07 GMT
The ascend was painfully slow, powered solely by Archer’s muscles. Floating in the water like he was now, there was nothing Miska could do. He could not swim in this large suit. Nor could he simply grabbed the LifeLine and attempted to climb on his own. It would be different if Archer had simply tied the LifeLine somewhere. But now, it seemed that Archer pulled it all by himself. Miska would not like to add weight by trying to climb out himself. One or two Vagrant Spirits who still circled her darted towards her to attack, but these were easily dispatched by Durendal. And now, Kaumaile. However the Vagrant Spirits did not seem to be overly aggressive now. They seemed like a pack of wolves who knew their pray would get away eventually, and so they just moving incessantly around Miska, far from the reach of her weapons. They seemed to be confused too. Perhaps the Noble Phantasm user was a Leader or something and now the Vagrant Spirits were becoming very disorganized. And at last, Miska saw light. The next second he looked up, and the red murky water was replaced by the tumultous red clouds, high in the sky above. She had successfully got out of the river. Turning around, Miska came face to face with the hull of the sunken ship he was before. He quickly extended his hands and managed to grab the railings of the prow. That was the place he jumped off before. A swing from his leg with his last strength and Miska Kopparsvard was lying prone on the prow of the ship, watting the ship floor with red water. Opening his eyes, he would never forget how beautiful the menacing red cloud above could be. It was a thousand times better than the swirling red water he was in this last hour. Somewhere above her, she could hear –no, feel- Archer talking to her. “Master, we-we should return to Chaldea. Two Noble Phantasm is…”Miska closed her eyes and Archer’svoice trailed off along with her fleeting consciousness. Yes…he was right. They should return. It was the only thing she needed to hear. The only thing she wanted to hear… Hoping that at least the connection to Chaldea was still intact, the Master said his last command of the day. “Chaldea … Miska Kopparsvard and Archer… requesting Ray-Shift immediately… … … Mission... completed…”"---"
"---"
“...Affirmative, Miska. We’ll get you out of there immediately.”That was the last thread that bind Miska to this dreamy world called reality. She was tired. Extremely tired. She had plunged herself in a river full of cursed spirits, crawled on a blood red muck that seemed to be alive, facing hordes of Vagrant Spirits out to get a piece of her spirit, Witnessed not one but two hostile Noble Phantasms directed at her very own being…. No. Miska Kopparsvard had had enough of an hour. And now she only wanted to sleep. But faintly, in his lingering consciousness as the Ray-Shift shattered his material body; faintly he caught a glimpse of a white-haired Sentinel. How could he forgot? Archer had been with him from the start, experiencing much of the same things he had, and even forced to unleash his own Noble Phantasm. Not only that, he had lent him his cloak. Miska had to remember returning it to him later. Wanting to turn around but found herself too weak to even lift her head, Miska simply closed her eyes and let her words be spoken to the clouds above. “Archer, you did a good job. Thank you ... ... ...
"...hero." And then the Ray-shift completed. All that was left on the scene was a lonely broken ship, alone and lifeless, lording for eternity over the swirling red waters of Mion Estuary. ***
Done! Thank you for your hard work, smitejr! Let's thread again sometime!
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( Do pull Miska up and I think we are done...